Article sorting apparatus

An article sorting apparatus comprising:

• a conveyance path extending in a first conveyance direction;
• at least one conveyance unit including a belt that forms a load surface on which an article is placed and a driving portion for driving the belt, the conveyance unit being configured to move along the conveyance path and to convey the article placed on the load surface in a second conveyance direction that intersects the first conveyance direction;
• a loading portion configured to load the article onto the load surface of the at least one conveyance unit;
• a sorting portion configured to sort the article received from the at least one conveyance unit;
• a weight information detector configured to detect weight information correlated with a weight of the article that is transferred from the loading portion onto the load surface;
• and
• a controller configured to control driving of the driving portion in accordance with the weight information detected by the weight information detector, thereby transferring the article placed on the load surface to the sorting portion,
• wherein the driving portion includes a motor, the weight information detector includes a current sensor configured to detect a current flowing through the motor, and during transfer of the article from the loading portion to the belt in a driven state, the weight information detector detects the weight information correlated with the weight of the article using information on a regenerative current flowing through the motor that is detected by the current sensor during deceleration of the belt.

An article sorting apparatus comprising:

• a conveyance path extending in a first conveyance direction;
• at least one conveyance unit including a belt that forms a load surface on which an article is placed and a driving portion for driving the belt, the conveyance unit being configured to move along the conveyance path and to convey the article placed on the load surface in a second conveyance direction that intersects the first conveyance direction;
• a loading portion configured to load the article onto the load surface of the at least one conveyance unit;
• a sorting portion configured to sort the article received from the at least one conveyance unit;
• a weight information detector configured to detect weight information correlated with a weight of the article that is transferred from the loading portion onto the load surface;
• and
• a controller configured to control driving of the driving portion in accordance with the weight information detected by the weight information detector, thereby transferring the article placed on the load surface to the sorting portion,
• wherein the weight information detector includes an acceleration sensor configured to detect an amplitude of vibration of the conveyance unit, and during transfer of the article from the loading portion to the belt in a driven state, the weight information detector detects the weight information correlated with the weight of the article using information on the amplitude of the vibration of the conveyance unit that is detected by the acceleration sensor.